Beryllium is an indispensable and valuable material in atomic energy, rockets, missiles, aviation, aerospace and metallurgical industries.
1. Among all metals, beryllium has the strongest ability to transmit X-rays, and is known as metallic glass, so beryllium is an irreplaceable material for the small window of X-ray tubes.
2. Beryllium is the treasure of the atomic energy industry. In atomic reactors, beryllium is a neutron source that can provide a large number of neutron shells (hundreds of thousands of neutrons can be produced per second), and beryllium has a strong deceleration effect on fast neutrons, which can make the fission reaction go on continuously, so beryllium is the best neutron reducer in atomic reactors. In order to prevent neutrons from escaping the reactor and endangering the safety of workers, the reactor must be surrounded by a neutron reflector layer to force those who attempt to escape the reactor to return to the reactor. Beryllium oxide can not only reflect neutrons back like a mirror reflects light, but also has a high melting point and is particularly resistant to high temperatures, making it the best material for the neutron reflection layer in the reactor.
3. Beryllium is an excellent aerospace material. For every kilogram of the satellite's weight, the total weight of the launch vehicle increases by about 500 kilograms. The structural materials used to make rockets and satellites require light weight and strength. Beryllium is lighter than both commonly used aluminum and titanium and is four times stronger than steel. Beryllium has strong endothermic capacity and stable mechanical properties.
4. In the metallurgical industry, bronze containing 1% ~ 3.5% beryllium is called beryllium bronze, which has better mechanical properties than steel, good corrosion resistance, and high electrical conductivity. It is used in the manufacture of hairsprings in watches, high-speed bearings, submarine cables, etc.
5. Beryllium bronze containing a certain amount of nickel does not produce sparks when impacted, and this wonderful property can be used to make chisels, hammers, drill bits, etc. for petroleum and mining industries to prevent fire and explosion accidents. Beryllium bronze, which contains nickel, is not attracted by magnets and can be used to make anti-magnetic parts.
Most of the industrial beryllium is used in the form of beryllium oxide for the production of beryllium copper alloys, a small part is used in the form of metal beryllium, and a small amount is used as beryllium oxide ceramics. Before the 40s, metal beryllium was used as an X-ray window and neutron source, and from the mid-40s to the early 60s, it was mainly used in the field of atomic energy, such as using beryllium to breed neutrons as a reflective layer for test reactors, moderators and nuclear weapon components. In 1956, beryllium gyroscopes were used for the first time in inertial navigation systems, which opened up an important field of beryllium applications. In the 60s, the main use of beryllium shifted to the field of aerospace and aviation, where it was used to make components for aircraft.
X-rays have a high transmission capacity to beryllium. Beryllium nuclei are a neutron source material when they are hit or irradiated by neutrons, particles, deuterium nuclei and γ rays to produce neutrons. The thermal neutron absorption cross section of the beryllium atom is 0.009 target en.